Article handling means



1943. G. R. PIERCE ARTICLE HANDLING MEANS Dec. 28,

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Nov. 20, 1939 In 0672 for GeorgeRPwn'e.

Dec. 28, 1943. c-; 2,337,923

ARTICLE HANDLING MEANS Filed Nov. 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 30 3 32 1,5 16 gm; Il

/A 1 g 11 11 1344 27 11 I g 16 JFzvenZ'or: 3 eorgellflierce.

ZZZKW a iibrne y'l Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE HANDLING IWEANS George R. Pierce, Claremont, N. H. Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,217

17 Claims.

This invention relates to article handling means, and more particularly to improvements in a case for handling milk bottles or the like. The invention pertains principally to a construction which lends itself to a variety of uses, such, for example, as a sterilizing casein which the bottles are supported, mouths downwardly, so that when inserted in a sterilizer or washer and the cleansing fluid is admitted from below, the fluid may enter the mouths of the bottles without obstruction, or the bottles may be inserted in the case, mouths upwards, for filling and capping, or for delivery and collection purposes.

In handling articles such as milk bottles, it is customary to place the bottles mouths upright, either when full or empty for collection, into a delivery case, and such delivery case is also used in the sterilizer or washing machine, and in the filling and capping machine. I-Ieretofore such delivery cases were, due to their design and construction, not only unwieldy to handle, particularly during stacking, but also relatively unsanitary, since the delivery cases in which the full bottles are delivered and the empty bottles are collected, are also used in the sterilizing and washing machine. Furthermore, present day cases have corner projections at their tops which interfere, to agreat extent, with proper stacking of the cases, and the case bottoms are fiat so that a large contact area with its supporting surface is present, a feature which lends to contamination, due to contact with a surface which is unclean. Also, known types of cases, due to the design of the heavy and costly bracing structure of the cases, are relatively heavy and expensive, thereby increasing the cost of replacement, and because of lack of proper bottle support a relatively large amount of bottle breakage results. Moreover, in known types of delivery cases the empty bottles must be individually inverted by hand in the case rack prior to the placing of the casein the washer and sterilizer, and the' bottle mouths rest directly on the cross wires of the bottom rack which prevents proper entry of the washing and sterilizing fluid into the interior of the bottles, as well as hinders proper cleaning of the bottle mouths. This results in incomplete cleaning of the bottles by the cleaning fluid and also increases the possibility of contamination and, due to the large bottom contact area of the cases now in commercial use, the possibility of such contamination of the cleaning fluid is further increased.

An object of the presentinvention ist'o' provide an improved article delivery andsterilizer case which overcomes the disadvantages ofthe present day cases. Another object is to provide an improved article delivery and sterilizer case having improved positioning and supporting means for the articles. A further object is to provide an improved milk bottle case having improved means for supporting the bottles to be cleaned in the sterilizer and washer, whereby the cleaning fluid will be discharged directly and without interference into and over the bottle mouths. Yet another object is to provide an improved milk bottle case wherein means is provided for con: currently inverting the bottles quickly and with facility entirely without contact by hand. Still another object is to provide an improved milk bottle case of an extremely sturdy construction well adapted to meet the'severe demands of service. Another object is to provide an improved means for supporting the case on its supporting surface and for facilitating stacking of a series of superimposed cases. A further object is to provide, in a bottle case of the above character, im

. proved means for inverting the bottles whereby the bottles maybe supported in washing position in an improved manner. These and other objects and advantages ofthe invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the following description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. x

In the accompanying drawings there is shownforpurposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved bottle case, a portion of the case side walls being broken away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle carrier basket or inner case.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved article supporting rack. s

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating structural details of the inner case or carrier basket;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the outer case showing one of the corner braces.

Fig. 9 1's an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. '7.

The invertible outer case 2 is generally rectangular in shape and preferably of a fabricated structure having its side walls 5 and end walls 6 composed of wood, although metal may be employed if desired. The outer case is rectangular in shape and has an open top and bottom and the exterior corners of the case are preferably rounded, as illustrated. The four corners of the outer case walls are firmly braced in an improved manner, and each corner brace, as shown in Fig. 5, is preferably composed of a single metal strip suitably bent into proper shape and riveted in place. As shown in Fig. 5, each brace before bending consists of a flat metal strip out into the propershape, and this strip is initially bent along line AA in Fig; 5 to position its sides in right angular relation, thereby to provide an angle iron structure which is adapted to fit closely within an interior corner of the outer case, A longitudinal slot 1, extending along the center of the strip throughout substantially one-half of the strip length, enables transverse bending of the slotted portions 8 along line BB in Fig. 5,so that these bent portions may be placed over the top edges of thecase walls and then downwardly along the exterior surfaces of the case walls and around the bottom edges of the case walls; The other end of each bracing strip is centrally longitudinallyslotted a short distance at 9, and the slottedportions II) are adapted to be bent along line C-CinFig. 5 at right angles to the length of the strip, for a purpose to be later explained. The bracing elements, when properly bent along line AA, are placed, in the inside corners of the outer case and suitably riveted to the case walls, andthe bent portions 8 are then bent around the out:ide of the case walls as shown most clearly in Fig. '7. The upper edges of the case wallsare notched so that the top surfaces of the strip portions lieflush with the top surfaces of the case walls. The ends of th strips are then bent around the lower edges of the case walls and then turned upwardly at I I against the insides of the case walls. It will thus be seen that the wooden walls of the outer case are effectually bound together and adequately braced. The end walls of the outer case ar formed with conveniently located hand hole openings I2, l2 whereby the case may be easily handled.

Now referring to the carrier basketor inner case 3, it will be noted that a pair of longitudinal metal strips I3, |3 and three cross metal strips I4, are secured to a pair of superimposed rectangular side wall frames I5. The longitudinal and cross metal strips have horizontal portions secured together to provide the basket bottom; and upwardly bent end portion secured to the frames I5 and cooperating with the latter to form the sides and ends of the basket. These strips, as well as the frames I5, are of flat metal suitably bent into shape, and the cross strips M are bent over at I6 the top edges of the sidewall stripfll5,

in th manner shown in Fig. 4. Horizontal cross and longitudinal brace rods I! and I8 extend between the side and ends of the side wall strips I5 to provide a rugged construction, and these cross brace rods cooperate to provide a series of I are bent to provide pivot sockets 22 for a pair of handles 23, 23 whereby the basket may be readily handled.

The article supporting rack 4, as shown in Fig.

3, is composed of a relatively stiff wire 24 bent into rectangular shape and having Welded or otherwise secured thereto at 25 series of cross rods 26 and series of longitudinal rods 21 extending transversely of the cross rods and welded to the latter, said rods cooperating to form a series of rectangular openings'28 through which the'necks of the milk bottles are adapted to project, as will later be explained. This rack not only serves properly to space the bottles in the case but also at times provides a bottom support for the carrier basket as well as a support for the inverted bottles during the sterilizing operation.

Aga n referring to the outer case structure, it will be noted that riveted, or otherwise secured, at 29 to the corner brace elements for the outer case are vertically spaced ledge-like abutments or stops 30 and 3|, and the bent portions ID at the lower ends of the brace elements extend below the lower abutments and beneath the bottom side walls of the outer case and are shaped to provide bottom supporting feet for the case.

These feet have rounded portions preferably in 'the case with its supporting surface is present with the bottom edges of the case walls elevated a substantial distance above the supporting surface on which the four feet rest. This construction eliminates a large contact area of the case with its supporting surface, thereby reducing the possib'lity of contamination with an unclean surface and also reducing the possibility of contamination of the cleaning liquid in the washing machine, as will later appear.

When the rack 4 is placed within the outer case, it rests on the bottom abutments 3|, in the manner shown in Fig. 10, and at that time the inner case or carrier basket-3 may be inserted within the outer case into a position wherein it rests on the rack. When the parts are in the position shown, the case serves as a delivery and collect'on case and the full or empty milk bottles may be placed into the basket compartments I9, or if desired the basket may be filled with bottles prior to the placing of the basket within the outer case. Obviously, at-this time the rack 4 resting on the lower abutments or stops serves as the bottom support for the carrier basket. Thus arranged the case may be used as a delivery case When it is desired to invert the bottles for washing purposes, this may be accomplished by removing the inner case or carrier basket 3 from the outer case 2 and placing the basket on itsv bottom on a suitable supporting surface. The outer case 2 is then lifted from its supporting surface and placed over the carrier basket with the rack 4 engaging the bodiesof the bottles with the bottle necks projecting upwardly through the rack openings 28, as shown in Fig. 11. The rack thus serves properly to space the bottles within the case. At that time the carrier basket handles 23 are located in proximity to the hand hole openings 12 of the outer case, as shown. With the parts thus arranged, the operator may grasp one of the handles 23 of the carrier basket and insert his fingers through the hand hole opening in the outer case to hold the basket in position within the outer case, and then manually concurrently invert the outer case and basket. into the position shown in Fig. 12'. With the case thus inverted, the rack A rests against the stops at with the bodies of the bottles resting against the rack rods and with the bottle necks suspended downwardly, in the position shown. The inverted case may then be inserted within the sterilizing and washing machine and with the bottles so disposed the cleansing'fluid may be ejected upwardly within the bottle mouths and over the bottle exteriors, thereby insuring proper cleansing of the bottles. When the bottles have been properly washed and sterilized, the case may be removed from the washing machine and inverted so that the inner case or carrier basket 3 again rests on its bottom, as shown in Fig. 11. The outer case is then moved upwardly from the carrier basket to remove the rack 4 from the bottles, and in this position the rack 4 again rests on the bottom stops iii of the outer case. The carrier basket is then reinserted within the outer case with its bottom resting on the rack, as shown in Fig. 10.

In the stacking of a series of cases in superimposed relation, the bottom feet of the. case to be stacked fit within the inside corners of the case next below and the metal corner braces at that time provide protection for the inside corners. of the case, thereby eliminating to a substantial extent the possibility of damage to the outer case during stacking. Also by having the projections on the case bottoms, the stacking of the cases is facilitated since when the operator lifts a case to place it on top of another case, he first inserts the rear bottom projections within the case next below and then shoves the upper case rearwardly and as it moves rearwardly he raises the outer end of the upper case to move the front bottom projections over the adjacent wall of the case next below, and finally inserts the bottom projections within the lower case. This mode of stacking was not possible withknown types of cases since the projections are formed at the tops of the cases instead of at the bottoms as in the present instance. be stacked in inverted position upon removal from the washing machine, to effect draining and drying of the bottles, in an obvious manner;

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved delivery case for milk bottles or the like is provided which may also be used as a sterilizer case in the washing machine. also be noted that by the provision of the spaced upper and lower stops or abutments on the interior of the outer case and the rack adjustablebetween thesestops, it is possible not only" to- The cases may It willuse the case for bottle delivery or collection purposes but the case may also be employed in the rapid inverting of the bottles, thereby eliminating the necessity of individually inverting the bottles, as has heretofore been necessary. It will further be evident that by the provision of the improved case structure having improved bracing means, an extremely rugged case is produced which is well adapted to meet the severe demands of service. The bottom feet with their relatively small contact points reduce the possibility of contamination by contact with unclean surfaces. Other uses and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an outer case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops within said case, and a supporting rack arranged within said case and freely movable bodily vertically between said stops, said rack having openings for receiving and formed properly to space articles contained in said case, and said stops engaged by said rack when the latter is in its bottom position positioned in said case to locate said rack to serve as a bottom for the case, and said stops engaged by said rack when the latter is in its upper position located in said case to position said rack properly to space the articles contained in said case.

2. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops upon said case, and an article supporting rack arranged within said case and having openings for receiving and spacing the articles, said rack being freely movable bodily between said stops, said stops supporting said rack in-diiferent positions in said case in inverted positions of the latter, said stops engaged by said rack when said case is in one of its relatively inverted positions positioned on said case to locate said rack to serve as a bottom for the case to support the articles in upright position and said stops engaged by said rack when said case is in the other relatively inverted position located on said case to hold the articles in inverted position.

3. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops' within the outer case, a supporting rack arranged within the outer case and having openings for receiving and spacing the articles, said rack being freely movable bodily between the stops, said rack engaging certain of said stops when said case is in one position and others of said stops when said case is inverted, said stops engaged by said rack when said case is in said first mentioned position positioned to locate said rack to serve as a bottom for the case and said stops engaged by saidrack when said case is'in inverted position located to position said rack to hold said articles in inverted position and above the. then lowermost portion of said case.

' 4; article handling means" comprisin'gjin combination, anlinvertibl'e outer casehaving an open t'op'and an open bottom,verticallyspaced stops'within theouter case, a supporting rack arranged within the outer case and having open-' ings for receiving thearticles to maintain the lat-' ter in proper spaced relation, isaidrack. being freely movablebodily between the stops, said' rack engaging certain of said stop whensaid case is in ..one position and others of said stopssaid rack for support thereby when said rack is in aforesaid position wherein it serves as the case bottom.

5.,An article handling means comprising, in

combination, an invertibl outer case havingan open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops within the outer case, a supporting rack arranged within the outer case and having openings for receiving the articles to maintain the latter in proper spaced relation, said rack being freely movable bodily between the stops, and said rack'engaging certain of said stops when said case is in one position and others of said stops when said case is inverted, said stops engaged by said rack when said case is in said first mentioned position positioned to locate said rack to serve as a bottom for the case and said stops engaged by said rack when said case is in inverted position located to position said rack to hold said articles in inverted position and above the then lowermost portion of said case, and an inner article receiving case over which said outer case is adapted to be placed, said rack opening properly spacing the articles contained in said inner case when said outer case is placed over said inner case. a r

6. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and open bottom, a supporting rack arrangedwithin said outer case and having open-' ings for receiving the articles to maintain the latter in proper spaced'relation, said rack being freely movable vertically in said outer case, vertically spaced stops in saidcase for supporting said rack in different positions in said case in inverted positions of the latter, and an inner article case over which said outer case is adapted to be placed, said rack openings properly spacing the articles contained in said inner case when said outer case is placed over said inner case, said outer and inner cases being concurrentlyinvertible, and said stops engaged by said rack in said last mentioned position of said case supporting the rack to locate the then-bottoms of the articles contained in said inner case above the level of the then-bottom surface of the outer case. 7

7. An article handlingmeans comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, a supporting rack receivable in said case and having a series of article receiving openings, vertically spaced stops in said case for supporting said rack-indifferent I postions in said case in inverted positions of the latter, and an inner article receiving case insertable in said outer case-and; having a series of article receiving compartments, certain of said stops-positioned in said outer case to locate said rack-in one of the relatively inverted positions of said outer case to serve as a bottom for the outer case with said inner case resting thereon and others of said stops positioned in said outer case to locate said rack in the other relatively inverted position of said outer case to support said inner case in inverted position, said rack openings receiving portions of the articles within the inner case and serving to support the articles in inverted position.

8. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops in said'case, and an article supporting rack receivable within said outer case and having spaced openings for receiving and spacing the articles, said rack being freely movable bodily between said stops, certain-of said stops located in said case to position said rack'in one of the relatively inverted positions of said case to serve as a bottom for the case to support the articles in upright position and others of said stops positioned in'said case to locate said rack in the other relatively inverted position of the case to support the articles in inverted position.

9. An'article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops within said case, a supporting rack receivable in said case for movement bodily between said stops, said rack having openings for receiving and properly spacing the articles, and an article carrier receivable in said case, certain of said stops positioned in said case to locate said rack in one of the relatively inverted positions of said case to support said carrier with its bottom resting on said rack and others of said stops positioned in said case to locate said rack in the other relatively inverted position of said case to hold said carrier in inverted position.

10. An article carrier comprising a series of parallel fiat longitudinal strips and a series of parallel flat cross strips, said strips having horizontal portions secured together to provide the carrier bottom and upwardly bent side portions, an outer frame to which said side strip portions are secured, and a .series of longitudinal and cross rods dividing the basket interior into article receiving compartments and secured to said side strip portions and said outer frame at their junctures, said cross strips having rebent portions extending downwardly over the outer ends 1 of said cross rods.

11. An article carrier comprising a series of flat longitudinally extending strips, a series of fiat cross strips, said strips having horizontal portions secured togetherto form the carrier bottom and upwardly bent side portions, an outer frame to which said side strip portions are secured, said outer frame and said side portions cooperating to provide the sides and ends of the carrier, a series of longitudinal and cross rods dividing the car- -rier interior into a series of article receiving comtom and upwardly bent side portions, outer frames arranged in superimposed relation and to which said side portions are secured, said outer frames and said side portions cooperating to provide the sides and ends of the carrier, and a series of longitudinal and cross rods dividing the carrier interior into a series of article receiving compartments, said rods secured to said side portions of said strips and said top outer frame at their junctures, and said side strip portions of said flat cross strips having rebent portions extending downwardly over the ends of said cross rods.

13. An article carrier comprising a series of flat longitudinally extending strips, a series of flat cross strips, said strips having horizontal portions secured together to form the carrier bottom and upwardly bent side portions, outer frames arranged in superimposed relation and to which said side portions are secured, said outer frames and said side portions cooperating to provide the sides and ends of the carrier, a series of longitudinal and cross rods dividing the carrier interior into a series of article receiving compartments, said rods secured to said side portions of said strips and said top outer frame at their junctures, said side strip portions of said flat cross strips having rebent portions extending downwardly over the ends of said cross rods, and handles attached to said side portions of said longitudinal strips, the ends of said longitudinal strips being bent to provide bearing socket for said handles.

14. An article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, spaced upper and lower stops within said case, a rack receivable in said case and movable within said case bodily between said stops, said rack having openings for receiving and properly spacing the articles, and an invertible inner article receiving case insertable into said outer case for support by said rack, said bottom stops positioned in said outer case in one of the relatively inverted positions of said outer case to locate said rack as a bottom for the outer case and said inner case resting on said rack when the latter is in engagement with the lower stops, and said upper stops positioned in said outer case in the other relatively inverted position of said outer case to locate said rack to hold said inner case and the articles therein in inverted position.

15. An articl handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, spaced upper and lower stops in said case, a supporting rack receivable in said case and movable bodily between said stops, said rack having openings for receiving and properly spacing the articles, and an inner article carrier case receivable in said outer case, said bottom stops in one of the relatively inverted positions of said outer case positioned on the case to locate said rack as a bottom for said outer case to support said carrier case with the articles therein in upright position and said upper stops positioned on said outer case to locate said rack in the other relatively inverted position of said outer case to hold said carrier case in inverted position With portions of the articles therein depending from said rack in inverted position within said outer case.

16. An article carrier comprising a series of fiat longitudinally extending strips, a series of flat cross strips, said strips having horizontal portions secured together to form the carrier bottom and upwardly bent side portions, outer frames arranged in superimposed relation and to which said side portions are secured, said outer frames and said side portions cooperating to provide the sides and ends of the carrier, a series of longitudinal and cross rods dividing the carrier interior into a series of article receiving compartments, said rods secured to said side portions of said strips and said top outer frame at their junctures, and handles attached to the side portions of certain of said strips, the ends of said latter strips being bent to provide bearing supports for said handles.

17. Handling means for containers having bases and mouth portions and portions between their bases and mouth portions of larger transverse area than said mouth portions, said article handling means comprising, in combination, an invertible outer case having an open top and an open bottom, vertically spaced stops upon the outer case, and a supporting rack arranged within the outer case and movable bodily between the stops, said rack having means for spacing said containers and for cooperating with the intermediate portions of the latter to support said containers in inverted position and for supporting said containers in upright position, said case having stops engageable by said rack in opposite extreme positions thereof, certain of said stops positioned on said case to locate said rack in one of the relatively inverted positions of said case to hold the inverted containers with their mouths spaced above the then-bottom of the case and others of said stops positioned on said case to locate said rack, in the other relatively inverted position of the case, as a bottom for said case to support said containers in upright position.

GEORGE R. PIERCE. 

